Another Toad Charge Line Question

[USMCRET]

Several years ago I bought a Toad Charge system thinking that I needed one. I didn't, and it has sat on my shelf unused ever since.

I have a new toad, and I do need a charge line on this one. I want to use the 12v line on my MH's 7-pin connector. I'll have a 6-pin connector at the toad.

I also want to make use of the regulator and breaker from the Toad Charge system that I already have.

Looking at the below diagram from the Toad Charge manuf, I'm thinking I'll move the breaker to the toad side just after the 6-pin connector, and then ground the ground wire from the regulator on the chassis vice running it back to the tow bar as illustrated.

Will that work?

[l1v3fr33ord1]

USMCRET-

First off, you do not have to use a Toad Charge at all. There are other folks on these forums that would tell you that, if I hadn't done so now. That said, I did use one in my installation.

Secondly, depending on how your coach is wired (speaking for "wyorancher" here), you may need some form of diode between your coach and toad, to prevent feedback of 12V from the toad to the coach circuits. The Toad Charge does provide that function, but so does a diode by itself.

Now, to your question. The circuit breaker is there to protect the wiring from starting a fire should it short to ground. It's supposed to be installed as near the battery as possible. You should not move it to the toad. The charge line must be fused or have a circuit breaker at each end to be safe.

What you want to do, which is use a charge line that may already be in your coach's wiring, is a great idea, and my preferred way of doing things. If your coach has a charge line (you say it does), then you should trace it back to the battery. On some coaches there's already a circuit breaker or fuse in the charge line, near the coach battery. In that case, you have the option of installing only the Toad Charge itself, and not installing the circuit breaker or two-conductor wire.

In a prior post I discussed the 2005 Kountry Star wiring diagram, but I could not conclude that a properly-fused charge line existed. Perhaps you will be able to trace it out and confirm that one way or the other.

Mark

[USMCRET]

Thanks for your insight, Mark. I'm going to try to trace that wire back and see what I find.

[USMCRET]

That didn't take long. There is no wire going into the position on the 7 pin connector for that purpose. I have six wires there, but none going to that position.

I think this makes it easier for me to know what to do next.

[USMCRET]

So what I'm going to do is run a fused wire from the MH chassis battery to the 7 pin connector. On the toad side, I'm going to wire it as shown in the diagram above except there will not be a ground wire going into the regulator as shown.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

USMCRET-

No surprise on the absence of a charge line (drawing shows no wire on "pin E").

According to the diagram there are two fourteen-gauge wires running from somewhere up front and blunt cut (probably taped together), somewhere near the 7-pin connector. If we knew where they went and how they were fused, you could possibly use both at once as a charge line (a single 14 AWG is usually smaller than desired for this service). If you do happen to figure out the source and destination of those two wires, please post here so "the next guy" will know.

Per your post #5, I believe the Toad Charge requires a ground wire to work correctly. I crimped on a ring terminal and attached it to the same ground as the battery.

Mark